Bush needs money to beat the Dems

Thanks to Emily at Strangechord for sending this along Rally the Real Grass Roots?

The above link includes a fund raising appeal from Marc Racicot - the Bush-Cheney 2004 Campaign Chairman and Chair of the Repulican National Committee. In the appeal, Mr. Raciot claims that the Democrats are making "vicious personal attacks" on President Bush, and that "Billionaire liberals" are out to "pervert the election process." The appeal is to start a "grassroots" campaign by people sending in their "$25, $50, $75, $100 or whatever you can afford to give today?"

No one denies that Racicot is a good fundraiser. according to Jefferey St. Clair (Marc Racicot: Bush's Main Man CounterPunch, 8/9/2003), Raciot raised $250 million in soft money for the 2000 election cycle and was the "man" called in put the strategy in place in Florida to "seal the election."

Racicot Claims that: "He has restored dignity and honor to the White House. President Bush has led America with moral clarity and purpose and strength in the War against Terrorism. The President provided the leadership necessary to cut taxes and restore economic growth. President Bush's reforms are making America a more compassionate society where no child is left behind. But that positive record ... the President's strong values ... his character and integrity and vision ... that all may not matter. "

The irony of the appeal is almost too great for words.

First, President Bush has been raising a million dollar plus at every campaign event he goes to - I don't think any of the Democratic candidates have done this yet.

Let's see what Open Secrets has to say. Their donation figures include receipts through October 15, 2003.

Total Receipts
George W. Bush (R) $84,583,768
Howard Dean (D) $25,387,493
John Kerry (D) $20,043,631
John Edwards (D) $14,510,398
Dick Gephardt (D) $13,666,915
Joe Lieberman (D) $11,779,353
Lyndon H. Larouche Jr (D) $5,652,783
Wesley Clark (D) $3,491,108
Dennis Kucinich (D) $3,399,709
Carol Moseley Braun (D) $341,668
Al Sharpton (D) $283,529

Source of Funds
Bush
Individual contributions $82,843,770 98%
PAC contributions $1,581,711 2%
Candidate self-financing $0 0%
Federal Matching program $0 0%
Other $158,287 0%

Dean (because he is the next largest fund raiser)
Individual contributions $25,327,097 100%
PAC contributions $15,500 0%
Candidate self-financing $0 0%
Federal Matching program $0 0%
Other $44,896 0%

Donor Demographics for all candidates
Candidate % of $2000+ donors/ % of $200 or less donors
Bush, George W 73% / 11%
Dean, Howard 13% / 56%
Kerry, John 55% /12%
Edwards, John 65% / 3%
Lieberman, Joe 52% / 9%
Gephardt, Dick 55%/ 12%
Clark, Wesley 31% / 35%
Kucinich, Dennis 11%/ 65%
Larouche, Lyndon H Jr 5% / 45%
Moseley Braun, Carol 30% / 25%
Sharpton, Al 64% / 9%

I guess that you can say that Bush has brought "moral clarity and purpose" to the Whitehouse. This is what I call a third level concept - one that plays upon the cultural assumptions of people while not meaning what one says. It is like the idea of "family values." Everyone supports "family values" and thinks that everyone means the same thing when they use that phrase. With Bush's "moral clarity and purpose," it is one of being "called" and establishing a "Christian" empire that rules the world by force and coersion (Onward Christian Soldiers). Of course, helping a few "friends" gain financially and politically along the way is all to the good --- afterall, "Christians Prosper" if you remeber the bumper sticker from the 1980s.

The appeal is to Bush's "grassroots" though not to his primary supporters since only 11% of his contributors are in the $200 or less range. One has to wonder what the $2000 and up group is called? Oh yeah ... they are called "Rangers" -- those who raise $200,000 or more -- and "Pioneers" -- those who raise $100,000 or more. There are 134 "Rangers" thus far in the 2004 campaign and some of the names look familiar: Marvin Pierce Bush (GWs brother I believe), Dennis Hastert (Speaker of the House), George Pataki (Gov of NY), and Gordon Smith (Senator from Oregon). To keep track of who is who in the Bush fundraising campaign check out Texans for Public Justice and what is happening in the campaign WhiteHouseForSale.org

Posted by rowan at December 20, 2003 7:55 AM | TrackBack | [eMail this article!] |